PLACE OF SOLACE
Shiro's Place of Solace; "Jungle Cavern"
As you head South, Ichigo's small section of Karakura-cho slowly becomes overgrown, until one find themselves in a jungle, on a worn, moss-covered stone path. All around, birds and other animals cry out and insects buzz; if you aren't someone who "belongs" there (someone Shiro has given specific permission to enter) you'll probably find yourself attacked by insects, as in any other jungle. The stone path winds up a small mountain to the mouth of a cave.
At the top of the path, a cave mouth opens up, with a sure path into it. The outside is decorated with mossy and slightly deteriorated stone dragons, guarding the entrance. Scattered around the outside and very entrance to the cave are bones; skulls, femurs, ribs, teeth, of all sorts of creatures... including human. These seem to be a warning.
The entranceway is a closed hallway for about 200 feet before opening up again on one side, revealing a huge blue pool and sunlight. This pool is the deepest, and bubbles up from the earth. Strange white fish swim in its waters; ghostly pale with silver and gold scales, long whiskers, and somewhat eel-like bodies. The cave then descends back into the earth, deep down, and into a series of interconnected caverns.
The caverns are lit by strings of paper lanterns, seemingly electric despite there being no real electricity out into this area. The walls and floors are smoothed out, while the ceilings have spires of stone hanging down. In contrast to all the nature and wet, the caves are cool and dry, with modern conveniences like furniture and tables. There's a total of four caverns; the living chamber, the bed chamber, the sparring area and the inner sanctum (also known as the mirror room). All of the chambers are divided from each other by hanging curtains.
(rightclick > view image to see it larger)
The most obvious thing in the living chamber is a giant dragon's skull hung on the wall like a trophy, liberated from a chimera living in Lioriley's place of solace. Other than that, there is a large sectional couch, a large round chair, a few beanbags, lots of pillows, and a table with some chairs. The floor is covered, mostly with rugs and animal skins. To the right and down is the sparring chamber. In here, the floor is covered with a soft pad, and various kinds of training equipment are lying around. To the left of the living chamber is Shiro's sleeping area. His "bed" is a giant beanbag with pillows all over. In one "corner" is a pile of stuff; skulls, shiny things, round things... all of the objects the Hollow has taken a shine to and collected. In another are drawers and cabinets, built into the wall, to hold his large collection of clothes (as well as some of Ichigo's). Beyond the bed chamber, down a steep incline and beyond another curtain is the innermost sanctum. None but Shiro himself and Ichigo are allowed in here, with very few exceptions. This cave is home to some strangely luminescent pools of water, glowing from within due to the presence of spirit particles called reishi. One pool is fairly shallow and doesn't seem to have any purpose. Another is smaller, but very deep and reflects like a mirror. In here, Shiro can see what he is doing "back home", as with the rest of the special mirrors in the city. The largest pool is three to four feet at it's deepest, with a small "island" in the middle of it. The island boulder is covered in a rug for sitting. Water trickles into the pool from the rocks above in a small, quiet waterfall. this area is quiet, peaceful and a good place to think. Shiro still bathes at the clinic and sleeps there most nights.
Also, if you have to go to the bathroom?
It's outside. All around you. Pick a bush.
As you head South, Ichigo's small section of Karakura-cho slowly becomes overgrown, until one find themselves in a jungle, on a worn, moss-covered stone path. All around, birds and other animals cry out and insects buzz; if you aren't someone who "belongs" there (someone Shiro has given specific permission to enter) you'll probably find yourself attacked by insects, as in any other jungle. The stone path winds up a small mountain to the mouth of a cave.
At the top of the path, a cave mouth opens up, with a sure path into it. The outside is decorated with mossy and slightly deteriorated stone dragons, guarding the entrance. Scattered around the outside and very entrance to the cave are bones; skulls, femurs, ribs, teeth, of all sorts of creatures... including human. These seem to be a warning.
The entranceway is a closed hallway for about 200 feet before opening up again on one side, revealing a huge blue pool and sunlight. This pool is the deepest, and bubbles up from the earth. Strange white fish swim in its waters; ghostly pale with silver and gold scales, long whiskers, and somewhat eel-like bodies. The cave then descends back into the earth, deep down, and into a series of interconnected caverns.
The caverns are lit by strings of paper lanterns, seemingly electric despite there being no real electricity out into this area. The walls and floors are smoothed out, while the ceilings have spires of stone hanging down. In contrast to all the nature and wet, the caves are cool and dry, with modern conveniences like furniture and tables. There's a total of four caverns; the living chamber, the bed chamber, the sparring area and the inner sanctum (also known as the mirror room). All of the chambers are divided from each other by hanging curtains.
(rightclick > view image to see it larger)
The most obvious thing in the living chamber is a giant dragon's skull hung on the wall like a trophy, liberated from a chimera living in Lioriley's place of solace. Other than that, there is a large sectional couch, a large round chair, a few beanbags, lots of pillows, and a table with some chairs. The floor is covered, mostly with rugs and animal skins. To the right and down is the sparring chamber. In here, the floor is covered with a soft pad, and various kinds of training equipment are lying around. To the left of the living chamber is Shiro's sleeping area. His "bed" is a giant beanbag with pillows all over. In one "corner" is a pile of stuff; skulls, shiny things, round things... all of the objects the Hollow has taken a shine to and collected. In another are drawers and cabinets, built into the wall, to hold his large collection of clothes (as well as some of Ichigo's). Beyond the bed chamber, down a steep incline and beyond another curtain is the innermost sanctum. None but Shiro himself and Ichigo are allowed in here, with very few exceptions. This cave is home to some strangely luminescent pools of water, glowing from within due to the presence of spirit particles called reishi. One pool is fairly shallow and doesn't seem to have any purpose. Another is smaller, but very deep and reflects like a mirror. In here, Shiro can see what he is doing "back home", as with the rest of the special mirrors in the city. The largest pool is three to four feet at it's deepest, with a small "island" in the middle of it. The island boulder is covered in a rug for sitting. Water trickles into the pool from the rocks above in a small, quiet waterfall. this area is quiet, peaceful and a good place to think. Shiro still bathes at the clinic and sleeps there most nights.
Also, if you have to go to the bathroom?
It's outside. All around you. Pick a bush.